Colette McEachin, Richmond’s commonwealth’s attorney, officially launched her campaign for re-election this week, seeking the Democratic nomination in the June 17 primary. McEachin touts her tenure as a period of both crime reduction and significant criminal justice reform in the city.

“I am proud to stand by my record of keeping Richmonders safe while bringing criminal justice reform to our community,” McEachin said in a statement. “During my tenure, crime rates have fallen significantly, including murders, shootings, robberies of individuals and the level of gun violence.”

As part of her re-election pitch, McEachin emphasized her efforts to address issues of justice and fairness in Richmond’s criminal justice system.

One of her key initiatives, she noted, was the creation of the Community Justice Reform Unit in 2021. Under this unit, McEachin’s office implemented the Restorative Justice program, an alternative to conviction or incarceration.

The commonwealth’s attorney also highlighted the office’s work in facilitating the expungement process for individuals seeking to clear their criminal records. She pointed to the initiative as one of her office’s efforts to reduce barriers for those seeking a second chance.

Additionally, McEachin underscored her commitment to increasing accessibility to the public, noting her participation in community events.

The Community Justice Unit has held six “Conversations with the Commonwealth” across the city to address topics such as public safety in schools and issues with local mail delivery.

However, McEachin’s re-election bid comes amid some lingering criticisms of her leadership during her tenure. In particular, her handling of police misconduct cases has drawn scrutiny. In 2021, defense attorney Tom Barbour challenged McEachin in the Democratic primary, criticizing her office for lacking racial diversity and for not adequately holding police officers accountable.

Aditionally, McEachin’s decision not to pursue charges against officers involved in incidents during the 2020 protests against police violence sparked criticism.